Building Blocks for History Lab:
Essential Question: Why has Florida’s state flag changed over time?
Before introducing this history lab to students, they must be familiar with the general details of European colonization of Florida and events leading into statehood. In general students will need to understand slavery and secession. See below for a partial list:
· North and South positions on Slavery
· Secession
· Reconstruction
Grade 4 History Lab
Name: Date:______
Essential Question: Why has Florida’s state flag changed over time?
SS.4.A.1.1 Analyze primary and secondary resources to identify significant individuals and events throughout Florida history.
Main Ideas / Messages / Important Details / How does this source answer the essential question?Source 1
[include source information as applicable]
Source 2
Source 3
Source 4
Thesis: ______
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Source 1
State Flag (Mosely Flag) - 1845
After Christopher Columbus arrived in the New World in 1492, several countries set their sights on Florida. During the 1500s, various Spanish explorers came to Florida and established settlements. Later, from the 1500s to the late 1700s, the French and the English also fought for control of Florida. By then, the United States had become a new country and it also sought to possess Florida. In 1821, Florida became a territory of the U.S.; it was part of the area of land in the U.S. with its own government. Florida became the twenty-seventh (27th) state of the United States on March 3, 1845.
Governor William Moseley was presented with this flag from citizens of Tallahassee. The flag was flown at his inauguration. However, it never became an official state flag because of its motto: Let us Alone. These words provoked controversy because some people believed that the new state motto was not proper for Florida to use as it was a new state at the time. Several other state flags, both official and unofficial have been a part of Florida’s history.
Source 2
First Official State Flag - 1861
After Florida seceded from the Union in 1861, several unofficial flags flew over the state. Florida separated from the United States mainly because the country was divided over the issue of slavery. At the time, Governor Madison S. Perry was directed to adopt a flag by Florida’s general assembly. A description of Florida’s first official flag was recorded by the state. This picture of Florida’s state flag was a drawn from a description.
To this day, it is not known if the flag actually flew over Florida’s Capitol. In 1861, two other flags, the Chase Flag and the Secession Flag, were hoisted or raised over Florida, but the official flag was the one pictured above.
Source 3
Official State Flag – 1900
Florida’s state flags have changed over the years along with the course of its history. Before 1900, Florida’s State Seal was in the flag’s center on a white background. Between 1900 and 1985, the design of Florida’s state flag included the addition of diagonal red bars. In the late 1890s, Governor Francis P. Fleming suggested adding the diagonal red stripes. His reasoning was that Florida’s banner, when hanging from a flag pole, should not be confused with a white flag of truce. The meaning of a white flag indicated surrender and he reasoned that by including the red bars there would be no confusion. Fifty-seven percent (57%) of Florida’s voters were in favor of this change on the November 6, 1900 ballot.
Source 4
Official State Flag of Florida
The design of Florida's state flag was first adopted in 1900 through the democratic process of voting when the red diagonal bars were added. Today’s current design reflects changes to the seal in the center. This is the official Seal of the State of Florida which appears in the center. It has been used since May 21, 1985.
Florida law provides a description of how the flag should look. The symbols in the center of the seal all represent Florida and its history.
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